Apple holds lead as top U.S. smartphone maker

Apple Inc.
AAPL, -0.87%
maintained its title in the fourth quarter as the top U.S. smartphone manufacturer, preserving its lead over Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNHY, 005930.SE) amid a growing battle between the two technology giants.

The report from comScore said Apple increased its smartphone market share to 36.3% in the three months ended in December, up from 34.3% at the end of the previous quarter.

Samsung, meanwhile, edged up to 21% of the market from 18.7%. ComScore's report follows a separate reading from Strategy Analytics last week that showed Apple for the first time becoming the No. 1 mobile phone vendor by volume in the U.S.

Meanwhile, HTC and Motorola saw their market share decline.

Apple's stock has fallen sharply in recent weeks amid concerns about demand for its iPhone 5 and flat revenue during the holiday quarter.

Samsung, meanwhile, has sets its sights on Apple, working to compete with a combination of engineering prowess and clever marketing to provide phones to rival the blockbuster iPhone.

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